F1 champ Sebastian Vettel takes the 560-hp Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Prototype for a spin

By Nick Jaynes Published April 4, 2014

Turns out the 560-horsepower Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge isn’t just an attention-grabbing concept; Infiniti has sent the car to prototype stage and put Formula 1 champion – and Infiniti Director of Performance – Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel.

Giddy-up.

In the video below, you can see Vettle hammering the forthcoming Q50 Eau Rouge prototype – essentially a four-door luxury GT-R – around the Millbrook Proving Ground automotive testing facility in the U.K.

Infiniti promises to unveil the prototype at the Beijing Auto Show on April 20^th, bringing it one step closer to your driveway.

If you’re wondering why Infiniti is going forward with the Eau Rouge, there are – as far as I can figure –two reasons.

Firstly, the Q50 isn’t doing well in sales; customers don’t know it exists. So in order to draw attention to the new mid-size luxury sedan, luxury arm of Nissan is big guns.

Secondly – and perhaps more intriguingly – Infiniti seems keen to take on the Germans performance sedans, like the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Makes sense. If you got ‘em, smoke ‘em. Infiniti would be mad not to utilize the GT-R drivetrain for its own nefarious needs.

While the prospect of a production Eau Rouge excites me, I am trepidatious. I absolutely love the GT-R drivetrain but I just never cared much for the packaging. Sure, for $90,000, you get supercar performance. For that relatively measly price, though, tag, you also had to suffer a suspension carved from granite and deafening road noise.

A four-door lux version of the GT-R could essentially solve all my complaints with the car. So, to Infiniti, I say: shine on, you crazy cats.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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